–At the outset, let’s just agree; this number stinks. Job growth of less than 100,000 for the third consecutive month just stinks. However, today’s number is not all fire and brimstone. Yes, the total number of jobs added was low. But there were a number of counterbalancing positives. Income growth picked up, hours worked picked up, construction added jobs again and the participation rate held steady. More broadly though, that we latch onto these modest positives speaks to the bias of low expectations. This was the worst quarter for job growth in about two years. –Dan Greenhaus, BTIG LLC

–The best description I can come up with for this report would a technical term: blah… At this point, I am inclined to believe that employers have simply gone into slumber mode — waiting for some clarity in fiscal and regulatory policy that will only come November 6. –Stephen Stanley, Pierpoint Securities

–The slow labor market improvement reflected in this month’s 80,000 increase in jobs once again confirms that the better payroll increases in the beginning of the year were another false start. The pullback marks the third straight disappointing year. Subdued demand has been the one consistent factor in this sluggish economic expansion. On top of moderately rising labor costs, companies’ profit growth is also slowing. There is little hope of an acceleration in the pace of job growth any time soon. –Kathy Bostjancic, The Conference Board